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.  .  From  the  Mary  H.  Northend  Collection. 

Samuel  Mcintire  Portico  at  Salem, 

Mass.  Built  in  1807  of  White  Pine. 


WHITE  PINE 

The  Wood  Pre-eminent  Today  as  cAlways 

in  Home-Building 


cArchitectd 

Edition 


Phe  Northern  Pine  Manufacturers  Association 

Minneapolis ,  Minnesota 


Copyright,  1914 

The  Northern  Pine  Manufacturers’  Association 
Minneapolis,  Minnesota 


FOREWORD 


^  IMPRESSION  prevails  that  the 


d-  supply  of  White  Pine  —  the  chosen 
building  material  of  our  fathers  and  fore¬ 
fathers —  has  been  practically  exhausted; 
and  that  what  White  Pine  remains  can  be 
purchased  only  at  exorbitant  prices. 

To  dispel  this  illusion  is  the  purpose  of 
this  booklet: — to  carry  to  the  architect  and 
home-builder  the  message  that  there  is  still 
White  Pine  in  abundance,  and  that  it  can 
be  purchased  in  all  markets  at  a  reasonable 
cost,  taking  into  consideration  its  superior 
qualities  as  a  structural  wood. 


A  White  Pine  Fence  at  Newburyport, 
Mass.  Built  in  1800. 


Ropes  Fence  at  Salem,  Mass. 
1719  of  White  Pine. 


Built  in 


White  Pine 

The  Perfect  Structural  JVood 


THE  TEST- of  three  centuries  of  building  in  America  has  proved  White  Pine 
the  one  perfect  outside  structural  wood.  It  meets  every  demand  for  a  wood 
covering — exposed  to  the  relentless  attack  of  time  and  weather.  Other  woods 
have  some  of  its  qualities — no  other  wood  has  all  of  them. 

It  does  not  shrink ,  swell,  check,  crack,  split,  twist,  warp  or  rot,  even  after 
years  of  exposure  under  the  most  exacting  climatic  conditions.  In  siding,  casings 
or  cornice — it  does  not  “creep  or  crawl,”  or  open  at  the  joints;  in  exposed  mortised 
doors,  in  fine  close-fitted  mitres,  or  in  delicately  moulded,  carved  and  columned 
porticos,  its  joints  hold  close — not  for  a  year  or  a  lifetime,  but  for  centuries.  The 
“Old  Fairbanks  House,”  at  Dedham,  Mass.,  built  in  1636,  probably  the  oldest 
house  in  practically  its  original  condition  now  standing  in  America,  and  many 
other  unpainted,  weather-beaten,  White  Pine  houses  of  New  England,  built  soon 
after  the  Pilgrims  landed,  are  still  the  well  preserved  and  comfortable  homes  of 
their  descendants.  But  durability  is  not  White  Pine’s  only  admirable  quality. 

It  seasons  quickly  and  thoroughly;  it  is  light  and  soft — yet  strong;  no  other 
wood  works  so  easily  under  the  carpenter’s  tools,  and  once  in  place  it  forever 
“stays  put;”  it  offers  only  the  slightest  resistance  to  nails  and  screws,  then  closes 
in  and  holds  them  fast;  because  of  its  close  grain  and  freedom  from  objectionable 
acids  and  oils  it  takes  paints  and  stains  perfectly.  The  pattern-maker,  wood- 
carver  and  cabinet-maker  choose  it  for  the  most  exacting  uses  to  which  wood  can 
be  put;  the  box-maker,  because  it  is  soft  but  strong,  does  not  split  and  carries 
no  odor;  the  plasterer,  because  White  Pine  lath  hold  their  place,  and  therefore 
plaster,  so  well. 

Substitutes  for  W  kite  Pine  may  be  satisfactory  in  protected  places,  but  no 
other  wood  has  been  found  which  can  successfully  withstand  every  exposure 
out-of-doors.  In  an  effort  to  displace  White  Pine,  they  have  all  in  turn  been 
“tried,”  but  in  some  respect  “found  wanting.”  As  against  its  harder,  flintier 
substitutes,  the  economy  in  working  it  is  marked,  though  this  is  ordinarily  over¬ 
looked  and  rarely  reckoned  with.  It  is  the  one  wood  that  embodies  every  structural 
quality,  therefore  it  has  no  superior  for  any  of  the  special  or  specific  requirements 


7 


demanded  in  house  construction,  either  inside  or  outside.  But  for  “out-of-doors,” 
it  stands  alone.  These  advantages  are  conceded  to  White  Pine  and  have  accorded 
it  the  one  perfect  wood  for  an  outside  covering  in  home-building. 

That  our  use  of  the  terms  “outside  covering”  and  “exterior  surfaces”  may 
not  be  misunderstood,  they  include  siding  and  corner  boards;  window-sash,  frames 
and  casings;  outside-doors,  door-frames  and  casings;  outside-blinds;  all  exposed 
porch  and  balcony  lumber;  cornice  boards  and  mouldings;  and  any  other  outside 
finish  lumber — not  including  shingles. 

Against  JNhite  Pine  have  been  raised  two  arguments — and  only  two — 

SCARCITY  AND  COST. 

Nothing  is  more  erroneous.  Today,  as  always,  all  markets  can  furnish  it  at 
prices  that  are  reasonable,  when  its  qualities  are  considered. 

The  production  of  JT  hlte  Pine  for  1912,  based  on  the  last  issued  annual 
United  States  Government  report,  as  published  by  the  Census  Bureau  on  December 
30,  1913,  was  3,138,227,000  feet,  manufactured  by  5,733  saw  mills  in  31  different 
states,*  an  amount  fully  sufficient  to  meet  every  possible  demand.  The  disappear¬ 
ance  of  many  mills  from  the  water-ways  of  the  Middle  West  has  led  to  the  belief 
that  the  White  Pine  forests  are  exhausted.  Larger  mills,  however,  have  replaced 
them  at  the  source  of  an  abundant  supply,  and  will  produce  White  Pine  and 
plenty  of  it  for  generations  to  come. 

The  Cost  of  fPhlte  Pine,  it  is  true,  is  higher  than  that  of  its  substitutes;  but 
mahogany  costs  more  than  birch,  and  wool  more  than  cotton  or  shoddy;  yet  no 
one  questions  the  difference  in  their  price,  or  in  their  relative  worth.  White  Pine 


*  Detailed  United  States  Government  report  on  White  Pine  Production  for  1912 , 
issued  by  the  Census  Bureau ,  Department  of  Commerce ,  on  December  30,  1913. 


State 

Number  of  White  Pine 
Mills  Reporting 

Feet  Cut 

Minnesota 

305 

1,225,674,000 

Wisconsin 

491 

397,549.000 

Idaho 

46 

309,564,000 

Maine 

588 

280,145,000 

New  Hampshire 

390 

240,215,000 

Massachusetts 

380 

143,119,000 

Michigan 

349 

141,003,000 

New  York 

963 

76,355,000 

Pennsylvania 

810 

71,870,000 

North  Carolina 

343 

60,727,000 

State 

Number  of  White  Pine 
Mills  Reporting 

Feet  Cut 

Washington 

18 

41,762,000 

Virginia 

298 

26,193,000 

Tennessee 

180 

23,646,000 

Iowa 

8 

22,324,000 

West  Virginia 

138 

19,740,000 

Vermont 

143 

16,664,000 

Connecticut 

106 

16,422,000 

14  other  States 

177 

25,255,000 

Total  5733 

3,138,227,000 

8 


which  make  it  the  best  of  all  structural  woods,  and  therefore  it  is  worth  more. 
Hardness  and  obstinate  cross-grain  in  a  wood  mean  added  expense  to  the  carpenter 
in  working  it — but  White  Pine  is  soft,  its  grain  smooth  and  yielding,  and  in  this 
alone  there  is  a  lessened  expense  in  working  it  which  absorbs  much  if  not  quite 
the  difference  in  cost  between  it  and  its  substitutes. 

The  selection  of  a  structural  wood  is  too  frequently  determined  by  its 
price  per  thousand  feet,  and  not  often  enough  by  its  true  worth  for  the  particular 
purpose  for  which  it  is  to  be  used.  The  cost  of  the  lumber  in  the  outer  covering 
of  a  building  is  relatively  very  small  in  comparison  with  the  total  investment, 
and  the  difference  in  price  per  thousand  feet  can  be  very  misleading. 

To  illustrate  this  clearly  we  have  compiled  several  statements  of  compar¬ 
ative  costs,  based  on  actual  market  prices,  covering  several  different  types  of 
houses,  by  representative  architects.  The  resulting  cost  figures,  painstakingly 
computed  so  as  not  to  be  misleading,  show  that  in  the  two  houses  illustrated, 
which  are  covered  entirely  with  wood,  from  1^%  to  lf%  only  of  the  total  cost 
of  the  building — and  from  1|%  to  1^%  where  stone,  brick  or  stucco  are  the 
outer  covering,  determines  between  using  White  Pine,  or  a  substitute.  In  this 
no  attempt  has  been  made  to  show  the  reduced  cost  of  working  soft  White  Pine 
as  against  its  harder  substitutes,  for  while  the  difference  in  cost  is  surprisingly 
large,  there  can  be  honestly  varying  opinions  as  to  the  exact  amount  of  this 
difference. 

The  misapprehension  as  to  scarcity  and  prohibitive  cost  has  led  to  the  sub¬ 
stitution  of  cheaper  woods  for  White  Pine  on  the  plea  of  their  being  “just  as  good.1' 
But  the  test  of  centuries  has  proved  that  no  other  wood  is  “just  as  good.”  White 
Pine — the  wood  pre-eminent,  today  as  always,  in  home-building — is  still  available 
— and  you  can  get  it  by  insisting  that  you  will  have  no  other. 


9 


10 


Detail  of  Costs  Based  on  Chicago 
Market  Prices  of  Today  on  Country 
House  by  Wilson  Eyre  and  Mcllvaine 


Using  White 

Using  Substitute 

Labor  and  Materials 

Pine  for 

Woods  for 

General  Contract: 

Exterior  Surfaces 

Exterior  Surfaces 

Excavation  and  Masonry 

3  3,023.06 

3  3,023.06 

Rough  Lumber 

4,640.22 

4,640.22 

Outside  Finish — Exterior  Surfaces 

3,724.37 

3,209.37 

Interior  Finish 

1,433.71 

1,433.71 

Cabinet  Work 

4,422.00 

4,422.00 

Carpenter’s  Labor 

4,272.62 

4,272.62 

Sheet  Metal  Work 

844.06 

844.06 

Lath  and  Plaster 

1,565.49 

1,565.49 

Painting  and  Glazing 

2,192.80 

2,192.80 

Heating 

1,983.50 

1,983.50 

Plumbing,  Gas  Fitting  and  Sewerage 

3,016.50 

3,016.50 

Electrical  Work 

1,050.00 

1,050.00 

Hardware 

790.00 

790.00 

Lighting  Fixtures 

950.00 

950.00 

Marble  and  Tile  Work 

1,100.00 

1,100.00 

Total 

335,008.33 

334,493.33 

In  this  house,  with  its  entire  Outer  Covering  of  Wood,  estimated  to 
cost  335,008.33  when  using  White  Pine  for  Exterior  Surfaces,  or 
334,493.33  when  using  Substitute  Woods, — there  is  a  difference  of 
only  3515.00.  This  small  difference  of  3515.00,  or  but  1J%  of  the 
total  investment,  determines  between  using  White  Pine  or  Sub¬ 
stitute  Woods  for  an  Outer  Covering. 


11 


Houjt  keeper.  Uvnc,  T*pom  Mall  DininC,  Kpom 


LX 


I 


PJLAN  or  DROT  riOOFL 


IO  <5*  Zo  Z5  30  3S* 


v^CALEL 


HOUSE  near  Boston,  Mass.  De¬ 
signed  by  Derby  and  Robinson, 
20  Beacon  St.,  Boston. 

In  this  house  with  its  entire  Outer  Covering 
of  wood,  the  difference  in  cost  between  using 
White  Pine  and  Substitute  Woods,  based  on 
Boston  market  prices  of  today,  is  only 
$435.00.  This  $435.00,  or  only  lf%  of  the 
actual  total  investment, therefore  determines 
between  using  White  Pine  or  Substitute 
Woods  for  an  Outer  Covering. 


PLAN  Of 
JLCONP  FLOOR 


12 


HOW  TO  SPECIFY 
WHITE  PINE 


Accompanying  this  booklet  is  a  Book  of 
Specifications  covering  White  Pine,  issued  by 
The  Northern  Pine  Manufacturers’  Associa¬ 
tion,  of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan. 

It  describes  the  various  grades  of  White 
Pine  in  the  different  markets  of  the  United 
States,  under  the  grading  rules  applying 
thereto,  and  sets  out  in  concise  form,  care¬ 
fully  indexed  for  quick  reference,  such 
practical  information  as  will  be  helpful  in 
properly  specifying  White  Pine  in  each 
separate  territory. 


13 


HOUSE  near  Chicago,  Ill. 

Designed  by  Frederick  W. 
Perkins  of  Chicago. 


5CALE • 


Detail  of  Costs  Based  on  Chicago 
Market  Prices  of  Today  on  Brick 
House  by  Frederick  W.  Perkins 


Labor  and  Materials 


Using  White 
Pine  for 

Exterior  Woodwork 


Using  Substitute 
Woods  for 
Exterior  Woodwork 


General  Contract: 

Masonry,  Cut  Stone,  Iron  Work, 
Carpentry,  Sheet  Metal  Work, 
Plastering,  Interior  Finish,  Cabi¬ 
net  Work,  Painting,  Glazing  and 
including  White  Pine  for  all 
Exterior  Porch  and  other  Exterior 


Woodwork 

$18,757.08 

$18,430.08 

Plumbing,  Gas  Fitting  and  Sewerage 

1,900.00 

1.900.00 

Heating 

1,075.00 

1.075.00 

Electrical  Work 

568.00 

568.00 

Hardware 

412.00 

412.00 

Tile  Work 

475.00 

475.00 

Lighting  Fixtures 

495.00 

495.00 

Total 

$23,682.08 

$23,355.08 

If  all  Exterior  Woodwork,  consisting  of  main  entrance,  porches, 
columns,  cornice,  window  frames,  sash,  blinds,  etc.,  were  made  of 
White  Pine,  the  total  cost  of  this  Brick  House  would  be  323,682.08, 
or  in  Substitute  Woods  323,355.08,  a  difference  of  only  3327.00,  or 
practically  1  f%  of  the  total  investment. 


15 


Detail  of  Costs  Based  on  Pittsburgh 
Market  Prices  of  Today  on  Stone 
House  by  Janssen  and  Abbott 


Using  White 

Using  Substitute 

Labor  and  Materials 

Pine  for 

Woods  for 

Exterior  Woodwork 

General  Contract: 

Excavation,  Stonework,  from  Stone 
found  on  the  grounds,  and  Rein- 

Exterior  Woodwork 

forced  Concrete 

3  7,250.00 

3  7,250.00 

Lumber,  Mill  Work  and  Stair  Work 

5,500.00 

5,080.00 

Tile  Roofing 

1,210.00 

1,210.00 

Sheet  Metal  Work 

260.00 

260.00 

Carpenters,  Laborers,  etc. 

2,550.00 

2,550.00 

Plastering 

1,060.00 

1,060.00 

Painting  and  Glazing 

1,040.00 

1,040.00 

Heating 

2,600.00 

2,600.00 

Plumbing 

2,700.00 

2,700.00 

Electric  Wiring 

520.00 

520.00 

Lighting  Fixtures 

600.00 

600.00 

Hardware 

600.00 

600.00 

Tile  Work 

325.00 

325.00 

Screens 

400.00 

400.00 

Refrigerator 

230.00 

230.00 

Gas  Burners  and  Ranges 

225.00 

225.00 

Private  Water  Supply  System 

975.00 

975.00 

Sewage  Disposal  Plant 

2,500.00 

2,500.00 

Total 

330,545.00 

330,125.00 

In  this  Stone  House,  estimated  to  cost  330,545.00  when  using 
White  Pine  for  Outside  Woodwork,  or  330,125.00  when  using  Sub¬ 
stitute  Woods, — there  is  a  difference  of  only  3420.00.  This  differ¬ 
ence  of  3420.00,  or  less  than  H%  of  the  total  investment,  determines 
between  using  White  Pine  or  Substitute  Woods  for  the  Outside 
Woodwork. 


17 


HOUSE  at  Belmont,  Mass. 

Designed  by  Allen  W. 
Jackson  of  Boston. 


■  Fir,5t  *  Floor.  •  Plan  « 

tw,  »J  m  -t 


*  Second  -  Floor.  •  Plan  * 


18 


Detail  of  Costs  Based  on  Boston 
Market  Prices  of  Today  on  Stucco 
House  by  Allen  W.  Jackson 


Using  White 

Using  Substitute 

Labor  and  Materials 

Pine  for 

Woods  for 

Exterior  Woodwork 

General  Contract: 

Excavating,  Foundation  and  Cement 

Exterior  Woodwork 

Floor 

3  1,500.00 

3  1,500.00 

Brick  Walks  and  Steps 

215.00 

215.00 

Two  Chimneys 

630.00 

630.00 

Frame,  Boarding,  Shingles,  Paper 
Outside  Finish,  Windows,  Frames, 
Interior  Door  Frames  and  Interior 

2,150.00 

2,150.00 

Finish 

3,565.00 

3,290,00 

Floors  and  Millwork 

450.00 

450.00 

Interior  Lath  and  Plaster 

950.00 

950.00 

Tin  Roofs,  Conductors,  Outlets 

130.00 

130.00 

Coal  Bin,  etc. 

50.00 

50.00 

Rough  Hardware 

210.00 

210.00 

Painting  and  Glazing 

Exterior  Stucco  Plaster  and  Wire 

850.00 

850.00 

Lath 

950.00 

950.00 

Carpenter’s  Labor 

3,600.00 

3,600.00 

Plumbing,  Connecting  Sewer  and  Water 

1,200.00 

1,200.00 

Heating 

850.00 

850.00 

Electric  Wiring 

140.00 

140.00 

Lighting  Fixtures 

395.00 

395.00 

Tile  Work 

375.00 

375.00 

Finished  Hardware 

215.00 

215.00 

Total 

318,425.00 

318,150.00 

In  this  Stucco  House,  estimated  to  cost  318,425.00  when  using 
White  Pine  for  Outside  Woodwork,  or  318,150.00  when  using  Sub¬ 
stitute  Woods, — there  is  a  difference  of  only  3275.00.  This  differ¬ 
ence  of  3275.00,  or  only  1  \°/0  of  the  total  investment,  determines 
between  using  White  Pine  or  Substitute  Woods  for  the  Outside 
Woodwork. 


19 


A  Charming  Architectural  Bit,  by  McKim,  Mead 
and  White  of  New  York.  A  detail  of  the  country 
place  of  E.  D.  Morgan  at  Westbury  on  Long  Island. 


20 


# here  is  an  interesting  renaissance  taking  place  in  architecture  and 

in  American  life.  It  is  the  forsaking  of  our  modern,  feverish,  self- 
assertive  mood  and  methods,  and  the  effort  to  go  back,  if  possible, 
to  the  simplicities  which  are  always  the  sublimities  of  life.  It  is  the 
indication  of  a  return  of  American  wholesomeness. 

The  Pilgrims’  first  simple  houses  came  out  of  the  forests  of  New 
England — then,  with  their  dignity  of  line  and  wondrous  balancing 
of  proportion,  came  the  old  colonial  homes,  portraying  a  taste 
masterful  in  what  was  wrought  in  the  responsive  and  yet  retentive 
substance  of  American  white  pine.  Again  in  the  churches  of  New 
England  this  architectural  loveliness  is  reflected  in  the  purity  of 
their  white-painted  white  pine  spires,  leading  the  American  imagina¬ 
tion  airily  and  loftily  into  the  heights  above. 

It  is  not  to  be  marveled  at  that  the  highest  activities  of  the 
human  mind  have  abundantly  used  the  symbolism  of  the  pine  tree. 
The  Persian  potter  wrought  it  in  its  highest  green  upon  the  lighter 
turquoise  of  his  plate,  and  Zoroaster  passed  the  pine  tree  on  to 
Mohammed.  William  Watson  in  his  dream  of  the  unity  of  the  world 
sees  a  vast  forest  of  infinite,  if  sombre,  beautifulness  wherein  “The 
oak  hates  not  the  pine,  nor  beeches  wish  the  cedars  woe.” 

There  is  a  singular  ministry  to  music  coming  from  the  oaks.  It 
is  majestic  and  as  full-voiced  with  diapason  as  the  music  of  the 
organ.  But  whenever  the  pine  is  mentioned  in  poetry,  there  steals 
into  the  harmonic  measures  the  long  and  haunting  movement  of 
the  violin.  Wonderfully  tenuous  and  murmuring  are  the  winds 
which  whisper  or  muse  through  the  dark  green  solitude  of  a  pine 
forest  and  that  stimulate  a  literature  of  enchantment,  both  in  poetry 
and  in  prose. 


21 


Lying  on  some  piney  steep,  with  the  breath  of  the  pine  forest 
stimulating  one’s  clearer  thought,  one  sees  these  trees  as  prayers  in 
matins  and  vespers.  They  are  a  picture  of  urgent  life  enterprises 
clinging  to  a  rock  below  and  defying  difficulties  as  they  soar  above. 
Their  stately  orison  lifts  the  soul  into  an  anthem-like  mood, — and 
yet  so  useful  and  beautiful  as  are  the  things  man  makes  in  his  homes 
and  forums  where  the  pine  tree  serves  him, — valuable  for  timber  as 
is  the  pine  tree,  beautiful  in  scenery — no  one  has  found  the  most 
gracious  and  enriching  value  of  this  poem  of  the  wilderness  who  has 
not  lived  with  the  pine  tree  through  all  the  greenness  of  its  unfailing 
year,  musical  with  Spring’s  first  breath,  blissful  with  kindliness  in 
the  heat  of  Summer,  and  gorgeous  with  gloom  when  bending  under 
the  gathered  snow  storm — all  harmoniously  constituting  the  story 
of  the  soul’s  effort  at  true  self-expression. 

The  order  of  Nature  has  its  way  in  every  life.  Things  will  come 
with  a  beautiful  naturalness  and  accomplish  the  superior  result  that 
constitutes  a  living  faith.  And  so  the  tree  of  building  faith,  or  of  faith 
building  a  home,  has  been  no  more  justly  sung  than  by  Emerson: 

“Know’st  thou  what  wove  yon  woodbird’s  nest 
Of  leaves,  and  feathers  from  her  breast? 

Or  how  the  fish  outbuilt  her  shell, 

Painting  with  morn  each  annual  cell? 

Or  how  the  sacred  pine  tree  adds 
To  her  old  leaves  new  myriads? 

Such  and  so  grew  these  holy  piles, 

Whilst  love  and  terror  laid  the  tiles.” 

Frank  W.  Gunsaulus. 


22 


THE  BARKER  HOUSE  at  Pembroke,  Mass. 

The  first  house  in  America  of  which  there 
is  any  authentic  record.  Built  in  1628.  It  fell 
down  in  1894,  picked  to  pieces  by  relic  hunters. 


In  the  year  1628,  Robert  and  Francis  Barker,  two  brothers, 
the  earliest  of  the  Pilgrim  adventurers  to  follow  the  Pilgrims 
of  1620,  built  the  Barker  House  at  Pembroke,  Mass.,  the  first 
house  in  America  of  which  there  is  any  authentic  record, 
excepting  possibly  the  shell  and  adobe  houses  of  Florida 
and  California.  It  was  first  built  of  stone  and  clay,  15x27 
feet,  as  a  defense  against  the  Indians,  but  soon  after  was 
enlarged  and  covered  and  lined  with  White  Pine. 

For  over  250  years  this  house  remained  in  the  Barker 
family,  passing  from  father  to  son.  After  the  death  in  1883 
of  Peleg  Barker,  a  fifth  grandson  of  one  of  the  builders,  it  was 
unoccupied  and  was  gradually  picked  to  pieces  until  finally 
in  1894  it  collapsed,  and  had  to  be  torn  down. 

At  charming  little  Roseneath  Cottage  in  Hingham,  Mass., 
Miss  Susan  Barker  Willard,  a  ninth  granddaughter  of  Robert 
Barker,  has  a  room  devoted  to  many  White  Pine  and  other 
relics  from  this  old  Barker  House,  and  talks  most  fascinatingly 
of  them. 


23 


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THE  “OLD  FAIRBANKS  HOUSE”  at  Dedham,  Mass. 

Built  in  1636.  The  oldest  house  now  standing  in 
America  in  practically  its  original  condition.  278  years  old. 


Courtesy  of  Henry  I.  Fairbanks,  Dedham,  Mass. 


The  oldest  house  in  America  now  standing  in  practically 
its  original  condition,  excepting  possibly  the  shell  and  adobe 
houses  of  Florida  and  California,  is  probably  the  “Old  Fair¬ 
banks  House,”  the  middle  portion  of  which  was  built  in  1636. 
Several  other  houses  claim  this  distinction  but  there  is  little 
doubt  that  the  Fairbanks  House  is  entitled  to  it,  a  striking 
tribute  to  its  unpainted  outer  covering  of  White  Pine. 

This  charming  old  weather-beaten  house,  quaintly  nestled 
under  a  wealth  of  overhanging  elms,  breathes  the  sweetness 
and  charm  of  old  New  England.  For  278  years  it  has 
remained  in  the  Fairbanks  family,  passing  from  father  to 
son,  never  having  been  deeded.  It  is  now  occupied  by  Henry 
I.  Fairbanks,  an  eighth  grandson  of  the  builder,  who  tells  the 
visitor  a  most  interesting  story  of  its  historic  relics. 


24 


From  the  Mary  H.  Northend  Collection. 


HE  SALTONSTALL-WHIPPLE  HOUSE  at 
Ipswich,  Mass.  Built  between  1636  and  1675. 


This  venerable,  dignified  old  relic  of  stirring  Pilgrim 
days  is  one  of  the  claimants  against  the  Fairbanks  House 
for  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  house  now  stand¬ 
ing  in  America.  It  was  undoubtedly,  however,  built  at 
a  later  date. 

The  brick  and  stone  wall  of  the  first  floor,  concealed 
by  the  weather-beaten  White  Pine  covering,  has  given 
rise  to  the  belief  that  it  was  first  built  for  a  garrison 
house.  The  small  panes  of  glass  and  the  long  sweep  of 
the  roof  give  an  air  of  distinction  to  this  picturesque  old 
manse. 


25 


From  the  Halliday  Collection,  Boston. 


The  old  meeting  house  at 

Hingham,  Mass.  The  oldest  church 
in  America.  Built  in  1681.  233  years  old. 


The  “Old  Ordinary’' 
at  Hingham,  Mass. 
Built  in  1650 


The  Old  Meeting  House  at  Hingham,  widely  known  as  the  “Old  Ship” 
Church,  is  the  oldest  place  of  public  worship  in  continuous  use  in  America. 
“Let  the  work  of  our  fathers  stand,”  is  the  strangely  significant  inscription  on 
the  seal  adopted  by  this  church  many  years  ago.  The  outside  and  inside  are 
of  White  Pine  and  the  frame  work  of  oak.  For  over  two  centuries  this  church 

has  stood  in  all  its  simple 
dignity  practically  as  it 
was  first  built. 

The  history  and  tradi¬ 
tions  of  the  “Old  Ship” 
Church,  as  told  by  the  Rev. 
Louis  C.  Cornish,  its  pres¬ 
ent  pastor,  are  most  inspir¬ 
ing.  He  himself  lives  in  the 
historic  “Old  Ordinary,” 
which  with  its  outer  and 
inner  covering  of  White 
Pine  stands  today  substan¬ 
tially  as  it  was  built  in  1650. 


From  the  W.  E.  Woodside  Collection,  Hingham,  Mass. 


26 


Courtesy  of  Miss  Susan  B.  Willard,  Hingham,  Mass. 


ROSENEATH  COTTAGE  at  Hingham, 
.  Mass.  Built  between  1640  and  1670. 


This  sweetly  quaint  little  cottage,  standing  on  a  hillside  well  back 
from  the  road  at  the  end  of  a  lane  arched  with  elms,  is  now  the  home 
of  Miss  Susan  Barker  Willard,  a  ninth  granddaughter  of  Robert 
Barker,  one  of  the  builders  of  the  Barker  House,  the  first  house  in  the 
United  States  of  which  there  is  any  authentic  record. 


One  small  room  in  Roseneath  Cottage  is  to¬ 
day  the  shelter  of  numerous  relics  from  the 
old  Barker  House,  among  which  are  some 
interesting  old  parchments,  including  the 
“Barker  Commission”  of  1709,  framed  in  the 
original  White  Pine  from  this  historic  house. 
Nothing  more  charming  can  be  imagined  than 
Miss  Willard’s  story  of  the  old  house  and  her 
present  fascinating  home. 

Roseneath  Cottage  is  built  of  White  Pine, 
inside  and  out.  It  tells  the  story  of  economy 
in  building  well,  even  in  a  small  home. 


27 


From  the  Mary  H.  Northend  Collection ,  Salem ,  Mass. 

HE  ISAAC  ROYALL  HOUSE  at 
Medford,  Mass.  Built  in  1732. 


A  small  part  of  this  house,  built  in  1631,  is  the  oldest  section  of 
any  house  now  standing  in  America.  The  mansion  itself  was  not,  however, 
built  until  1732.  During  the  Siege  of  Boston  it  was  the  headquarters  of 
General  John  Stark,  and  Washington  was  a  frequent  visitor  here.  The 
slave  quarters  may  be  seen  on  the  left  of  the  picture. 


The  Royall 
Summer  House 


The  exterior  of  the  front  and  back  of  this  house 
is  in  the  original  White  Pine,  the  ends  and  portions 
of  the  inner  linings  being  of  brick  with  oak  beams. 
Its  wonderful  White  Pine  mouldings,  paneling  and 
carvings  are  among  the  finest  examples  of  old 
Colonial  interiors.  Mr.  B.  F.  Fenton,  now  curator 
of  the  house,  tells  most  entertainingly  of  the 
numerous  treasures  in  his  care. 

On  a  knoll  at  the  rear  of  the  Royall  House  until 
a  year  ago  stood  the  Old  Summer  House,  built  in 
1732,  famous  for  having  had  planned  in  it  the 
Battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 


28 


From  the  Mary  H.  Northend  Collection,  Salem,  Mass. 


OHN  WARD  HOUSE  at  Salem, 
Mass.  Built  in  1684.  230  years  old. 


Words  could  not  portray  the  lasting  qualities  of  White 
Pine  as  graphically  as  this  remarkable  photograph.  The 
exact  date  of  the  unpainted,  weather-beaten  White  Pine 
siding  is  not  known,  but  it  is  certain  that  the  siding  on  the 
main  portion  of  the  house  is  from  150  to  200  years  old,  and 
stands  now  as  originally  built,  with  practically  no  repair. 
The  siding  on  the  lean-to  is  of  a  considerably  later  date, 
but  it  will  be  noted  that  there  is  no  appreciable  difference 
between  it  and  the  siding  on  the  main  portion  of  the  house. 
Both  are  in  splendid  condition  today  and  good  for  service 
for  many  years  to  come. 


29 


From  the  Halliday  Collection,  Boston. 

HRIST  CHURCH  at  Cam¬ 
bridge,  Mass.  Built  in  1759. 


This  dignified  old  church  was  designed  by  Peter  Harrison,  the  first  prac¬ 
ticing  architect  in  America. 

Mr.  William  E.  Wall,  for  27  years  a  vestryman  of  Christ  Church,  in 
speaking  of  its  present  condition,  after  155  years  of  continuous  service, 
says:  “All  of  the  outer  boards  are  of  good  old  New  England  White  Pine, 
whip-sawed,  the  greater  part  of  the  original  boarding  being  still  in  place 
and  sound  for  another  hundred  years.  The  inside  of  the  church  is  in  White 
Pine  and  in  excellent  condition. 

“About  1880  a  section  was  cut  out  of  the  side  of  the  church  where  a  new 
organ  was  installed.  My  brother-in-law  had  charge  of  the  carpenter  work. 
He  brought  me  as  a  curiosity  a  cross  brace  of  pine  which  had  been  joined 
to  an  oak  upright  by  an  oak  pin.  The  oak  upright  was  ‘powder  posted’ 
and  worm  eaten;  the  pin  was  worm  eaten  almost  to  a  shred;  but  the  pine 
brace  was  almost  as  sound  as  the  day  it  was  put  in.  There  are  other 
evidences  on  the  inside  of  the  walls  of  the  church  which  show  that  White 
Pine  is  superior  to  oak  in  a  climate  such  as  ours.” 


30 


From  the  F.  A.  Ollsen  Collection,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

COOPER-AUSTIN  HOUSE  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.  Built  in  1657.  257  years  old. 


This  wonderfully  well-preserved  house,  built  in  1657  by  Deacon 
John  Cooper,  is  now  the  property  of  the  Society  for  the  Preservation 
of  New  England  Antiquities.  For  250  years  it  was  in  one  family. 

In  the  will  of  Walter  Cooper,  of  the  third  generation,  are  found 
these  specifications:  “I  will  that  my  beloved  wife,  Martha,  should 
have  all  of  my  movable  property,  40  pounds,  lawful  money,  also  my 
silver  cup  and  my  Mare  and  chair  and  the  best  cow  and  one  of  the 

pigs . I  also  will  that  she  should  have  the  west  half  of  my 

dwelling  house  and  the  liberty  of  the  ovens  in  t’other  room.” 

The  house  was  exceptionally  well  built,  and  has  had  good  care. 
With  very  little  repair  the  original  White  Pine  clapboards,  held  in 
place  by  hand  wrought  nails,  are  still  on  it.  This  house  is  all 
White  Pine,  inside  and  out,  with  the  possible  exception  of  a  few 
oak  beams,  and  stands  today  practically  as  it  was  originally  built. 


31 


Governor  john  taylor  gilman 

HOUSE  at  Exeter,  N.  H.  Built  in  172E 


From  the  Mary  H.  Northend  Collection. 


Much  of  the  early  history  of  New  Hampshire  is  linked 
with  this  old  White  Pine  house.  The  first  copy  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  to  leave  Philadelphia  was  sent 
here  by  John  Hancock  to  Colonel  Nathaniel  Gilman.  The 
news  of  its  arrival  spread  like  wildfire.  Farmers  left  their 
plows,  mechanics  rushed  from  their  shops,  housewives 
deserted  their  spinning  wheels.  All  hurried  to  the  public 
square  where  amid  intense  excitement  John  Taylor  Gilman, 
son  of  Col.  Gilman,  read  the  famous  document.  This  was 
the  first  public  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 


32 


From  the  Flalliday  Collection,  Boston. 


THE  LONGFELLOW  HOUSE  at  Cam¬ 
bridge,  Mass.  Washington’s  headquarters 
during  the  Revolution.  Built  in  1759. 


Few  houses  are  held  in  more  affectionate  regard  by  the 
American  people  than  this  beautiful,  dignified  old  home.  It 
served  as  Washington’s  headquarters  during  the  darkest  period 
of  the  Revolution,  and  was  the  home  of  Henry  Wadsworth 
Longfellow  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  Here  were 
written  most  of  those  sweet,  simple  and  touching  poems  which 
have  given  Longfellow  his  place  among  American  poets. 

Longfellow’s  feeling  for  the  house  was  one  of  deepest  interest 
and  veneration.  He  never  allowed  the  slightest  changes  to  be 
made  in  it.  The  house,  built  entirely  of  White  Pine  inside  and 
out,  stands  today  substantially  as  it  was  first  built. 

“Once,  ah!  once,  within  these  walls, 

One  whom  memory  oft  recalls, 

The  Father  of  his  Country  dwelt. 

And  yonder  meadows  broad  and  damp 
The  fires  of  the  besieging  camp 
Encircled  with  a  burning  belt. 

Lip  and  down  these  echoing  stairs, 

Heavy  with  the  weight  of  cares, 

Sounded  his  majestic  tread; 

Yes,  within  this  very  room 
Sat  he  in  those  hours  of  gloom, 

Weary  both  in  heart  and  head.” 


33 


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List  of  Members  of 

The  Northern  Pine  Manufacturers’ Association 

of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin 

and  Michigan 

H.  S.  CHILDS,  Secretary 

Lumber  Exchange  Building,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Central  Lumber  Company 

Hudson,  Wis. 

Cloquet  Lumber  Company 

Cloquet,  Minn. 

Crookston  Lumber  Company 

Bemidji,  Minn. 

Deer  River  Lumber  Company 

Deer  River,  Minn. 

Johnson- Wentworth  Company 

Cloquet,  Minn. 

Leech  Lake  Lumber  Company 

Walker,  Minn. 

Nichols-Chisholm  Lumber  Company 

Frazee,  Minn. 

Northern  Lumber  Company 

Cloquet,  Minn. 

Northland  Pine  Company 

Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Pine  Tree  Manufacturing  Company 

Little  Falls,  Minn. 

Red  River  Lumber  Company 

Akeley,  Minn. 

Rust-Owen  Lumber  Company 

Drummond,  Wis. 

Sawyer-Goodman  Lumber  Company 

Marinette,  Wis. 

St.  Croix  Lumber  and  Mfg.  Company 

Winton,  Minn. 

J.  S.  Stearns  Lumber  Company 

Odanah,  Wis. 

The  J.  Neils  Lumber  Company 

Cass  Lake,  Minn. 

The  I.  Stephenson  Company 

Wells,  Mich. 

The  David  Tozer  Company 

Stillwater,  Minn. 

The  Virginia  &  Rainy  Lake  Company 

Virginia,  Minn. 

Thief  River  Falls  Lumber  Company 

Thief  River  Falls,  Minn. 

Wild  Rice  Lumber  Company 

Ada,  Minn. 

Any  information  desired  regarding  White  Pine  will  he  furnished  by 

the  Secretary  or  by  any  member  of  the  Association 

